What site / software do you use for your pool?

For years I was hosting my own pool using my own developed solution. Over the years it evolved from a excel spreadsheet that people printed out, to a spreadsheet that had dropdowns that eliminated misspellings. Eventually there was code that allowed them to submit it to a SQL database hosted on the web. I had built a VB script to move all the data into a single sheet, and then a master sheet that kept track of points for everyone in the pool.

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Pocket Bracket App. I start a pool, and depending on how many people you have (or how much you trust them) you can either enter all the brackets for everyone, or let them "join" if you give them the password (though they can modify it then...though it shows WHEN you modified it). Easy to enter, you just tap on the names, and then you can landscape it to see your whole bracket (and they'll mark off there who won and lost). Used to have only the standard 1-2-4-6-8-10 scoring, but now you can choose from a bunch or make your own. It'll also keep track how your bracket and pool is doing vs. everyone else at their site (as long as you haven't modified after the games start...then you're disqualified, but it will still keep track for you). And for those that don't have something that uses an App, they can actually check the website and find your pool and then their picks in it as well as the standings.

As for figuring out who is going to win if X happens....isn't looking at it and figuring it out part of the fun? I guess not if your pool has 300 people in it.

As you touched on, volume makes it difficult. I'm guessing major sites don't include the functionality as it often lets the majority of people know they have little to know chance of actually winnning after the round of 32. Causes a little loss of interest for some.

I find the opposite though, people care ALOT more when they know there are only 2 possible scenarios where they can win.. Suddenly whether or not middle yukon state community college beats western penn state technical college is very important.

I used to use the CBS bracket app on Facebook, seeing as that would be the easiest way to get a lot of people easily. However, that app isn't open this year without so much as an explanation. So, I've resorted to Yahoo, but not because I necessarily like it (because I don't). Most of the people I know and can trust to ante up for a bracket pool are guys I've done Fantasy sports with on there, so I know them getting lazy about having to create a login won't be an issue. It's really just about convenience.

In years past yahoo has had a tool where it let you predict the outcome of games, and it would show the standings of the whole group. Thats the only one I ever use. Also I believe after the first tip off you can see who everyone picked.

I've run a pool for about the last 8 years using printed brackets filled out by hand (and paid for in cash). I would post the brackets up on a wall, grade them after each round, and email updates to the group. It was pure. Sadly, after graduating and moving out of MI it's become too difficult, so I will no longer be running a pool.

I run my pool with runyourpool.com. There are a lot of great features, but there is a fee depending on how many members are in your pool.

The website generates many reports for your pool including: standings, who to root for, possible outcomes, final four predictions and team-by-team predictions.

It's a great site and I use it for March Madness and my NCAA Bowl pool. I have zero complaints and it compiles many cool stats for you. However, the only downside is the fee that it costs to run it. It's not that big a deal to me though because I just take out the extra money out of the winnings and in the grand scheme of things it doesn't take much out of the overall pot.